The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Phoenix

Since its inception in 1942, the centre served as a sub-centre of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Durban. It came into the fold of the Ramakrishna Mission in 2007. In 2018, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa – Phoenix was separated from its parent centre in Durban and was given the status of a full-fledged affiliate of the Ramakrishna Mission. Swami Saradaprabhananda is its President.
Activities:

1. Medical services:

   • Provided specialist medical and surgical services to poor patients at its facilities in Phoenix as well as in state hospitals and medical camps.

   • Free consultations, diagnoses and medication were offered in various disciplines.

   • Medical camps and yoga therapy sessions were conducted for children with cerebral palsy.

   • Medicines, medical aid, and monthly stipends were provided to healthcare workers.

   • Medical seminars were held.

2. Nutrition programme:

   • Indigent families were provided with grocery and vegetable hampers.

   • Nutrient-fortified breakfast cereals were distributed.

   • Bread and milk were provided on a regular basis.

   • Lactating mothers, their infants, and children were supplied with baby formula, blankets, toiletry packs and hygiene products.

   • Other social institutions received regular groceries.

3. Legal aid clinic:

   • Legal services and assistance were provided to indigent people.

   • Seminars were conducted as part of the legal education programme.

4. Veterinary services:

   • Medicine and food were supplied for pets of indigent families.

   • Surgical procedures were sponsored and vaccines administered.

   • Education on veterinary care was imparted.

5. Relief and welfare activities:

   • Social workers were trained to assess and support needy families with nutritional, educational, developmental, and medical needs.

   • Drinking water, cooked meals, breakfast packs, food hampers, blankets, etc., were provided to families affected by floods.

   • LPG refills were provided monthly.

   • Rainwater harvesting tanks were supplied to families.

   • Solar panels with LED lights were installed in homes of indigent families.

6. Agricultural projects:

   • Seeds, saplings, fertilisers, accessories and rainwater-harvesting tanks were donated to poor families and welfare organisations.

   • Kitchen gardens were maintained.

   • Education on soil health and water conservation was provided.

7. Children’s and youths’ programmes:

   • Structured values-based education classes were conducted through the Ramakrishna Open School.

   • Karate lessons were offered.

   • Regular classes on Hinduism were held for children.

   • Yoga workshops were conducted.

8. Educational Activities:

   • Regular classes on Vedanta and Swami Vivekananda.

   • Bookstalls were set up and literature packs distributed in Phoenix and surrounding areas.

   • Values-based literature for children was published.

   • Educational support was provided through financial assistance, uniform sets, stationery and counselling.

   • Seminars on continuing legal education were organised.

9. Skills Development:

   • Youths from indigent families received counselling, skill development and support for job creation.

   • Vocational training courses were sponsored on sewing and housekeeping.

   • Materials and equipment were supplied to support home-based businesses.

10. Religious activities:

• Weekly prayer services and satsangs were held.

• The birth anniversaries of the Holy Trio and other festivals were celebrated.

• Music players were installed at the homes of terminally ill patients and indigent families for devotional music.

Activities of the sub-centre at Johannesburg:

• Monthly distribution of groceries, vegetables, blankets and other household items.

• Medical equipment and grocery supplies were provided to hospices, and a wellness drive was hosted.

• Digital classes promoting Vedanta philosophy and values-based education for children were conducted.

• Regular prayer meetings were held.

• Celebrations of the birthdays of the Holy Trio and other religious festivals took place.